Man Drowns In CA Beach While Rescuing Son
SANTA CRUZ, CA (IANS) – An Indian American father of two, who brought his family for a vacation here, died while rescuing his 12-year-old son from a riptide.
Srinivasa Murthy Jonnalagadda, who did not know how to swim, was enjoying himself with his family at Panther State Beach in Santa Cruz County when rescue agencies had to be dispatched just after 6 pm on May 29.
“Unexpectedly a large wave came and knocked his son down and subsequent large waves began to drag him into the ocean,” a GoFundMe page read. He ran to save his son when he realized that the child was struggling to get out of the water.
While Srinivasa was able to rescue his son with help from a bystander, he was unfortunately dragged into deeper waters by the riptide as his family screamed and helplessly watched him drown.
Emergency personnel who rushed to the site were able to retrieve Srinivasa and CPR was initiated on him, following which he was boarded onto a California Highway Patrol helicopter and taken to the hospital.
He was pronounced dead at Stanford Hospital.
According to Kion 46 news channel, Srinivasa was rescued by members of multiple law enforcement agencies, including State Parks, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, and Santa Cruz Fire.
GoFundMe has called for donations to assist Srinivasa’s family with immediate expenses such as funeral costs, medical bills, and other unforeseen financial obligations.
To donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-support-the-family-of-srinivasa
Maneck Bhujwala
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I have experienced a huge wave suddenly coming to shore from otherwise calm waters of the sea at Santa Cruz beach area. Once when I was standing enjoying the view, midway down on the a narrow set of steps leading down from the park above, suddenly a huge wave rose up and went over me. Luckily I was holding on to the railing which saved me from being dragged down into the ocean. Occasionally, we read reports of tourists standing on a rock with their back to the ocean for photographs, when a sudden wave drags them into the ocean, not jist in Santa Cruz but many other beach areas. Also swimmers need to remember to swin parallel to the land (instead of towards the beach) when caught in riptides to avoid being dragged into the ocean by the powerful wave.
June 5, 2023Lalit Gulati
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Very very sad. Ultimate sacrifice for the child. Condolences to the family.
June 5, 2023RAJENDIR K SHARMA
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Sorry to hear this news. If he had life insurance, that should have helped surviving family members. Those who are reading this news should immediately get life insurance policy for their family members. You do not collect much with the so called “Go Fund Me”.
June 5, 2023